Assault in August killed 33 Afghan civilians, U.S. says
America blames Taliban for taking positions near noncombatants
The civilian toll of 33 compares with an original U.S. estimate of five to seven. The Afghan government and U.N. investigators claimed there were 90 civilian deaths. In a summary of its findings from a detailed investigation, Central Command said 22 militants died in the assault on a village compound intended to kill or capture an unnamed "high value individual."
U.S. Central Command spokesman Rear Adm. Greg Smith said the matter is considered closed and no disciplinary action is contemplated against anyone involved, in light of the investigation's conclusion that due diligence was exercised and there was no violation of the laws of war.
Working with the crew of an AC-130H gunship, the on-scene U.S. commander established positive identification of legitimate targets before ordering attacks with small arms and air power, according to the summary signed by the chief investigating officer, Brig. Gen. Michael Callan.
Of the 33 dead civilians, the U.S. investigators counted eight men, three women and 12 children. The 10 others were undetermined.
The acting commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, asserted that despite the civilian deaths, U.S. forces involved in the attack in western Herat province acted based on credible intelligence, in self-defense and in line with their rules of engagement.
"We are deeply saddened at the loss of innocent life in Azizabad," Dempsey said. He blamed the Taliban.
"We go to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties in Afghanistan in all our operations, but as we have seen all too often, this ruthless enemy routinely surround themselves with innocents," he said.
Central Command rejected the claims of the Afghan government and U.N. officials, saying they relied primarily on statements from villagers and limited forensics and had no access to U.S. intelligence.
"Their reports lack independent evidence to support the allegations of higher numbers of civilian casualties," the U.S. report said.
Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was in Afghanistan last month to get briefed on U.S. military procedures for avoiding civilian casualties in airstrikes, is determined to make sure that U.S. forces operate "with more care."
At the same time, Morrell said in an e-mailed statement while traveling Wednesday with Gates in Europe, the Central Command report showed that the Taliban deliberately puts "innocent bystanders in harm's way."
Recent comments
They are still covering up. The local Afghan population had to dig…
Adnan | Oct. 9, 2008 at 11:42 a.m.
